Method and device for wireless communication between computing devices

• US 7,908,401 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo; Joshua
• Application Number:
  US10/734,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20040125782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,650 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709227-228, 709/250, 710/8, 710 12- 13, 710/100, 710300-303
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0622 in relation to access
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic

Abstract

A communication device includes a structural, external interface (e.g., a USB interface) for connecting to a computing device, a wireless interface for making a wireless connection to a second computing device, and a memory or storage component for storing and embedding software for a variety of applications. The communication device provides wireless printing without the need to install a device specific printer driver each time at each new printer and without compromising security or privacy. The communication device also enables transferring of files and data wirelessly from one device to another.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method with a portable wireless communication device that is plug connectable to an external port of a first computing device for wireless communication, the wireless communication device previously being distinct from the first computing device, the wireless communication device having

an interface for plug connecting to the external port of the first computing device by a user,

a wireless communication component for wireless communication,

a memory component including a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected data stored in the private memory area for executing at the first computing device,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface and means for accessing the private memory area,

the wireless communication method comprising:

drawing power to the wireless communication device from the first computing device for operating the wireless communication device upon plug connecting the wireless communication device to the external port of the first computing device;

accessing the protected data from the private memory area of the wireless communication device by the memory controller of the wireless communication device;

providing a wireless software running and executing on the first computing device at least the protected data by the wireless communication device, automatically, upon plug connecting the wireless communication device to the external port of the first computing device;

activating, automatically, at the first computing device the wireless communication device, by the wireless software running on the first computing device, with the protected data received from the wireless communication device that is plug connected to the external port of the first computing device, to provide the first computing device wireless data access over the wireless communication component of the wireless communication device; and

enabling the first computing device to share Internet access with a second computing device over a local point to point wireless communication link between the first computing device and the second computing device, by the wireless communication device being plug connected to the external port of the first computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the first computing device and the wireless communication device,

wherein at least part of the wireless software is stored in the memory component of the wireless communication device, and the wireless software is installed and executed automatically upon connection of the communication device to the external port of the first computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disconnecting the wireless communication device from the external port of the first computing device; and

the wireless software automatically uninstalling or exiting at least part of the wireless software from the first computing device upon disconnection of the wireless communication device from the external port of the first computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the first computing device wireless Internet access with the portable wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface corresponds to a universal serial bus interface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication corresponds to a Bluetooth standard of wireless communication.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication corresponds to at least one of the IEEE 802 standards of wireless communication.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is configured as a dongle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second computing device includes one or more of a wireless mobile telephone, an Internet pad, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a smart phone, individually or in any combination.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first computing device includes a mobile computing device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless software includes a wireless communication stack component.

11. A wireless communication method with a portable wireless communication device plug connectable to an external port of a first computing device with a data output device, the wireless communication device previously being distinct from the first computing device, the wireless communication device having,

an interface for plug connecting to the external port of the first computing device by a user,

a wireless communication component for wireless communication,

a memory component that includes a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected software component stored in the private memory area for executing at the first computing device,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface and means for accessing the private memory area,

the wireless communication method comprising:

plug connecting the wireless communication device to the external port of the first computing device;

drawing power to the wireless communication device from the first computing device for operating the wireless communication device;

accessing the protected software component from the private memory area of the wireless communication device by the memory controller of the wireless communication device;

running and executing on the first computing device at least part of a wireless communication software that includes the protected software component from the private memory area of the wireless communication device, automatically, upon plug connecting the wireless communication device to the external port of the first computing device by the user;

establishing a wireless communication channel, by the wireless communication software executing at the first computing device, between a second computing device and the wireless communication device and over the wireless communication component of the wireless communication device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the wireless communication device and the first computing device;

receiving, at the wireless communication device that is plug connected to the first computing device, a data content from the second computing device over the wireless communication channel; and

passing, by the wireless communication software, the data content from the wireless communication device to the first computing device for output of the data content at the data output device associated with the first computing device to enable the second computing device to output the data content from the second computing device to the data output device associated with the first computing device over the wireless communication channel,

wherein the wireless communication software provides the first computing device with Internet access through the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication device further includes a public memory component that is accessible and viewable by the user.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

disconnecting the wireless communication device from the external port of the first computing device; and

automatically uninstalling or exiting at least part of the wireless communication software from the first computing device upon disconnection of the wireless communication device from the external port of the first computing device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication software includes a wireless communication stack component.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication device includes a battery operable to power operation of the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication correspond to one or more of a Zigbee, a Bluetooth, and an IEEE802 standard of wireless communication, individually or in any combination.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the data output device further includes an audio output device for outputting data content.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the output device includes a display device or a projection device for displaying or for projecting the data content.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the output device includes a printing device for printing the data content.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the data content includes one or more of video data content, sound data content, document data content, and projection data content, individually or in any combination.

21. The method of claim 11 further comprising storing the received data content at the memory component of the wireless communication device prior to passing the data content to the output device.

22. The method of claim 11 wherein the second computing device is a mobile device.

23. A communication method with a portable communication device for enabling phone calling from a computing device, the portable communication device having,

an interface for plug connecting to an external port of a first computing device by a user,

a memory component that includes a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected software component stored in the private memory area for executing at the first computing device,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface, means for accessing the private memory area, and means for facilitating an autorun operation for automatically launching and executing on the first computing device at least a phone calling software,

the communication method comprising:

plug connecting the portable communication device to the external port of the first computing device;

drawing power to the portable communication device from the first computing device for operating the portable communication device;

accessing the protected software component from the private memory area of the portable communication device by the memory controller of the portable communication device;

installing or running on the first computing device at least part of the phone calling software, automatically, upon connecting the portable communication device to the external port of the first computing device, the phone calling software including the protected software component accessed from the private memory area of the portable communication device by the memory controller;

enabling phone calling from the first computing device to a second computing device with the phone calling software running at the first computing device and the portable communication device being plug connected to the external port of the first computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the portable communication device and the first computing device; and

disconnecting the portable communication device from the external port of the first computing device, and upon disconnecting the portable communication device from the external port of the first computing device, the phone calling software automatically exiting or uninstalling at least part of the phone calling software from the first computing device,

wherein the phone calling software further facilitates Internet access at the first computing device through the portable communication device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the first computing device includes one or more of a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a tablet computer, a server, a handheld computer, an Internet information appliance, a mobile phone, and a web pad, individually or in any combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the portable communication device further comprising a hub with one or more ports for connecting to a device.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the phone calling software is installed and executed automatically upon connection of the portable communication device to the external port of the first computing device.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the memory component further includes a public memory area that is accessible and viewable by the user.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising intercepting a disconnection signal at the first computing device and in response to intercepting the disconnection signal removing or uninstalling at least part of the phone calling software from the first computing device.

29. A data communication method with a portable data communication device that is plug connectable to an external port of at least a first and a second computing device, the data communication device having

an interface for plug connecting to an external port of one or more computing devices by a user,

a memory component that includes a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected software component stored in the private memory area for executing at the one or more computing devices,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface and means for accessing the private memory area,

a public memory component that is accessible and viewable by the user,

the data communication method comprising:

plug connecting the data communication device with a memory component to an external port of a first computing device;

receiving, at the data communication device, at least part of a first device data content from the first computing device;

storing at least part of the first device data content, received from the first computing device, in the public memory component of the data communication device;

disconnecting the data communication device from the external port of the first computing device;

plug connecting the data communication device to an external port of a second computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the data communication device and the first computing device;

drawing power to the data communication device from the second computing device for powering the data communication device;

accessing the protected software component from the private memory area of the data communication device by the memory controller of the data communication device, the access of the protected software component for facilitating an autorun operation associated with installing or running on the second computing device at least part of a computer software application;

installing or running on the second computing device at least part of the computer software application that includes the protected software component from the private memory area of the memory component of the data communication device, automatically, upon plug connecting the data communication device to the external port of the second computing device;

accessing the first device data content stored in the public memory component of the data communication device by the computer software application running on the second computing device;

storing a second device data content from the second computing device to the public memory component of the data communication device;

synchronizing, by the computer software application running at the second computing device, at least part of the second device data content between the public memory component of the data communication device and the second computing device; and

disconnecting the communication device from the external port of the second computing device and the computer software application automatically exiting or uninstalling at least part of the computer software application from the second computing device,

wherein the data communication device includes a wireless component and the computer software application includes a wireless application for providing wireless communication to the second computing device over the wireless component.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising automatically deleting any temporary files that includes data content used by the computer software application residing in the second computing device upon disconnection of the data communication device.

31. The method of claim 29, the second computing device further comprising an output device including one or more of a display device, a projection device, and an audio output device, individually or in any combination.

32. The method of claim 31, the data communication device further comprising means for the computer software application running at the second computing device to pass at least part of a data content from the public memory component of the data communication device to the second computing device for rendering at least part of the data content at the data output device associated with the second computing device.

33. A portable wireless communication device plug connectable to an external port of a first computing device for wireless communication, the wireless communication device previously being distinct from the first computing device, and the wireless communication device having,

an interface for plug connecting to the external port of the first computing device by a user,

a wireless communication component for wireless communication,

a memory component that includes a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected data stored in the private memory area for executing at the first computing device,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface and means for accessing the private memory area,

the wireless communication device comprising,

means for drawing power to the wireless communication device from the first computing device for operating the wireless communication device upon plug connecting the wireless communication device to the external port of the first computing device;

means for accessing the protected data from the private memory area of the wireless communication device by the memory controller of the wireless communication device;

means for providing a wireless software running and executing on the first computing device at least the protected data by the wireless communication device, automatically, upon plug connecting the wireless communication device to the external port of the first’

computing device;

means for the wireless software running and executing at the first computing device to activate the wireless communication device with the protected data received from the wireless communication device automatically to provide the first computing device wireless data access over the wireless communication component of the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being plug connected to the external port of the first computing device; and

means for the wireless communication device that is plug connected to the external port of the first computing device to enable the first computing device to share Internet access with a second computing device over a local point to point wireless communication link between the first computing device and the second computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the first computing device and the wireless communication device,

wherein at least part of the wireless software is stored in the memory component of the wireless communication device, and the wireless software is installed and executed automatically upon connection of the communication device to the external port of the first computing device.

34. The device of claim 33, the portable wireless data communication device further comprising means for enabling the first computing device wireless Internet access with the portable wireless data communication device.

35. The device of claim 33 wherein the second computing device includes one or more of an Internet pad, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a smart phone, individually or in any combination.

36. A portable wireless communication device plug connectable to an external port of a first computing device with a data output device, the wireless communication device previously being distinct from the first computing device, the wireless communication device having,

an interface for plug connecting to the external port of the first computing device by a user,

a wireless communication component for wireless communication,

a memory component that includes a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected software component stored in the private memory area for executing at the first computing device,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface and means for accessing the private memory area,

the wireless communication device comprising:

means for drawing power to the wireless communication device from the first computing device for operating the wireless communication device;

means for accessing the protected software component from the private memory area of the wireless communication device by the memory controller of the wireless communication device;

means for running and executing on the first computing device at least part of a wireless communication software that includes the protected software component from the private memory area of the wireless communication device, automatically, upon plug connecting the wireless communication device to the external port of the first computing device by the user;

means for establishing a wireless communication channel, by the wireless communication software executing at the first computing device, between a second computing device and the wireless communication device and over the wireless communication component of the wireless communication device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the wireless communication device and the first computing device;

means for receiving, at the wireless communication device that is plug connected to the first computing device, a data content from the second computing device over the wireless communication channel; and

means for the wireless communication software to pass the data content from the wireless communication device to the first computing device for output of the data content at the data output device associated with the first computing device to enable the second computing device to output the data content from the second computing device to the data output device associated with the first computing device over the wireless communication channel,

wherein the wireless communication software provides the first computing device with Internet access through the wireless communication device.

37. The device of claim 36 in which the data output device includes a display or a projection device, individually or in any combination for displaying or projecting the data content.

38. A portable communication device for enabling phone calling having,

an interface for plug connecting to an external port of a first computing device by a user,

a memory component that includes a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected software component stored in the private memory area for executing at the first computing device,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface, means for accessing the private memory area, and means for facilitating an autorun operation for automatically launching and executing on the first computing device at least a phone calling software,

the portable communication device comprising,

means for plug connecting the portable communication device to the external port of the first computing device;

means for drawing power to the portable communication device from the first computing device for operating the portable communication device;

means for accessing the protected software component from the private memory area of the portable communication device by the memory controller of the portable communication device;

means for installing or running on the first computing device at least part of the phone calling software, automatically, upon connecting the portable communication device to the external port of the first computing device, the phone calling software including the protected software component accessed from the private memory area of the portable communication device by the memory controller;

means for the phone calling software running at the first computing device to enable phone calling from the first computing device to a second computing device, with the portable communication device plug connected to the external port of the first computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the portable communication device and the first computing device; and

means for disconnecting the portable communication device from the external port of the first computing device, and upon disconnecting the portable communication device from the external port of the first computing device, the phone calling software automatically exiting or uninstalling at least part of the phone calling software from the first computing device,

wherein the phone calling software further facilitates Internet access at the first computing device through the portable communication device.

39. A portable data communication device with a memory component and plug connectable to an external port of at least a first and a second computing device, the data communication device having

an interface for plug connecting to an external port of one or more computing devices by a user,

a memory component that includes a private memory area that is not accessible or viewable by the user,

a protected software component stored in the private memory area for executing at the one or more computing devices,

a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface and means for accessing the private memory area,

a public memory component that is accessible and viewable by the user,

the data communication device comprising,

means for plug connecting the data communication device to an external port of a first computing device;

means for receiving, at the data communication device, at least part of a first device data content from the first computing device;

means for storing at least part of the first device data content, received from the first computing device, in the public memory component of the data communication device;

means for disconnecting the data communication device from the external port of the first computing device;

means for plug connecting the data communication device to an external port of a second computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the portable communication device and the first computing device;

means for drawing power to the data communication device from the second computing device for powering the data communication device;

means for accessing the protected software component from the private memory area of the data communication device by the memory controller of the data communication device, the access of the protected software component for facilitating an autorun operation associated with installing or running on the second computing device at least part of a computer software application;

means for installing or running on the second computing device at least part of the computer software application, that includes the protected software component from the private memory area of the memory component of the data communication device, automatically, upon plug connecting the data communication device to the external port of the second computing device;

means for the computer software application running on the second computing device to access the first device data content stored in the public memory component of the data communication device;

means for storing a second device data content from the second computing device to the public memory component of the data communication device;

means for the computer software application running at the second computing device to synchronize at least part of the second device data content between the public memory component of the data communication device and the second computing device; and

means for disconnecting the data communication device from the external port of the second computing device, and upon disconnecting the data communication device from the external port of the second computing device, the computer software application automatically exiting or uninstalling at least part of the computer software application from the second computing device,

wherein the data communication device includes a wireless component and the computer software application includes a wireless application for providing wireless communication to the second computing device over the wireless component.